Double sided touch sensor on transparent substrate

• US 9,292,141 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2013
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Zhong, John Z., Kang, Sunggu, Pedder, James Edward Alexander, Tung, Chun-Hao
• Primary Examiner(s): FARAGALLA, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US14/067,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20150116255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/208 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes

Abstract

Compact touch sensors for touch sensitive devices and processes for forming the touch sensors are disclosed. The touch sensor structure can include a substrate, one or more underlying layers disposed on the substrate, one or more blocking layers disposed on the substrate or on one or more underlying layers, and one or more patterned layers disposed on the underlying layers or blocking layers. The one or more blocking layers can be configured to block underlying layers from exposure to certain wavelengths of light or from penetration of a laser beam that can cause damage. Additionally, the one or more underlying layers can be multi-functional, including the ability to block one or more light sources.

Claims

1. A touch sensor panel comprising:

a first substrate;

a visible area that is transparent to allow light to transmit from a display through the visible area;

a plurality of first lines of a first conductive material located in the visible area of the touch sensor and disposed on the first substrate;

a border area located on at least one side of the visible area;

a plurality of routing traces of a second conductive material located in the border area of the touch sensor panel and disposed on the first substrate and coupled to the plurality of first lines; and

one or more blocking layers disposed between the first substrate and the plurality of first lines and located in the visible area and the border area of the touch sensor panel, wherein the one or more blocking layers are configured to block a light source.

2. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of second lines of the first conductive material; and

one or more second blocking layers disposed between the first substrate or a second substrate and the plurality of second lines, wherein the one or more second blocking layers are configured to block another light source.

3. The touch sensor panel of claim 2, wherein the plurality of second lines is formed on the second substrate, the touch sensor panel further comprising:

an adhesive layer configured for adhering the second substrate to the first substrate.

4. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein the one or more blocking layers are configured to block ultraviolet light.

5. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein the one or more blocking layers are transparent to visible light.

6. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein the one or more blocking layers are configured to have an ablation fluence value greater than the fluence value of the light source.

7. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more underlying layers disposed between the first substrate and the plurality of first lines, wherein the one or more underlying layers are multi-functional and configured to block the light source.

8. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein the first substrate is configured to block the light source.

9. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more blocking layers comprises a first section and a second section, the first section located in the visible area of the touch sensor panel and the second section located in the border area of the touch sensor panel, wherein the second section is different from the first section.

10. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more blocking layers comprises multiple sublayers.

11. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more blocking layers includes one of a grating, nanoparticle material composite, and dye.

12. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more blocking layers blocks ultraviolet light and at least one of the one or more blocking layers blocks infrared light.

18. The touch sensor panel of claim 6, wherein the one or more blocking layers have a fluence value between 60-100 mJ/cm².

19. The touch sensor panel of claim 10, wherein the multiple sublayers includes TiO₂ and MgF₂.

20. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more blocks layers contacts the first conductive material.

13. A method for forming a touch sensor panel, the method comprising:

providing a first substrate;

forming a plurality of first lines of a first conductive material on the first substrate and locating the plurality of first lines in a visible area of the touch sensor panel, wherein the visible area is transparent to allow light to transmit from a display through the visible area;

forming a plurality of routing traces of a second conductive material on the first substrate and locating the plurality of routing traces in a border area of the touch sensor panel; and

forming one or more blocking layers disposed between the first substrate and the plurality of first lines and locating the one or more blocking layers in the visible area and the border area of the touch sensor panel, wherein the one or more blocking layers are configured to block a light source.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing a second substrate;

forming a plurality of second lines of the first conductive material on the second substrate;

forming one or more second blocking layers disposed between the second substrate and the plurality of second lines, wherein the one or more second blocking layers are configured to block another light source; and

adhering the second substrate to the first substrate.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

forming one or more underlying layers disposed between the first substrate and the plurality of first lines, wherein the one or more underlying layers are multi-functional and configured to block the light source.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more blocking layers are configured to block at least one of an ultraviolet light source or an infrared light source.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

depositing a third material on the first substrate;

patterning the third material with a pattern; and

exposing the touch sensor panel with the light source to transfer the pattern from the third material to the first conductive material.